AUSTIN — The co-chairs of the House Select Committee On Transparency in State Agency Operation — state Reps. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and Dan Flynn, R-Canton — released a statement Tuesday about Hall’s refusal to appear before the committee, which is considering his possible impeachment:

“On Dec. 10, 2013, we formally invited Regent Wallace Hall to testify before the Committee concerning his actions as a Regent at the University of Texas System. We were disappointed to learn, however, that he has declined our invitation to testify.

To date, the testimonies collected by the Committee have provided members with vital information necessary to conduct our investigation. In keeping with our pledge to provide a thorough and impartial process, our invitation to Regent Hall to testify still stands. We are eager to hear from him, and are prepared to accommodate his testimony.”

ORIGINAL POST

AUSTIN — UT System Regent Wallace Hall, accused of leading a “witch hunt” against UT-Austin President Bill Powers, will not appear before the legislative committee mulling his possible impeachment.

“Based on the confusion this causes about the Transparency Committee’s intentions, and the Committee’s motion to refer specific issues for possible criminal investigation, the only sound legal counsel is to caution Regent Hall against voluntary testimony before the Committee,” Van Fleet said. “Regent Hall has opted to be guided by this counsel.”

Hall is under investigation by the committee for alleged abuse of power and failing to disclose lawsuits filed against him on his application to become a regent. The committee may vote to recommend articles of impeachment to the full Texas House of Representatives.

During proceedings last month, board of regents general counsel Francine Frederick testified that Hall was accidentally given private student information in response to voluminous open records requests to the University of Texas at Austin, which has produced over 800,000 pages worth of records.

She said she asked him to return the documents but was notified that he had already shared the information with his lawyers.

This prompted committee members to wonder whether Hall had violated FERPA by disclosing the information.

Van Fleet told the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle a subpoena would allow Hall to discuss information gleaned from those records, which is legal under FERPA.

The committee issued a subpoena for Hall to appear Dec. 10, but retracted it because of scheduling conflicts.

Van Fleet said the committee also did not give Hall two weeks’ notice as requested to prepare to appear at the hearing, which will be held Wednesday and Thursday.

Committee members requested Hall’s presence in a Dec. 10 letter, eight days before they wanted the regent to appear.

Powers and UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa are scheduled to testify on Wednesday.

Committee co-chair Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, said the committee felt Hall would come before the committee of his own accord and did not require a subpoena. Alvarado said members gave Hall sufficient notice to appear at the hearing and asked him to provide a list of witnesses that he would like them to summon on his behalf.

“You’d think he would be eager to come and tell us his side of the story,” Alvarado said.